Dushyant Sridhar is a young ‘upannyaasaka‘ of rare ability. He is a professional raconteur of purana, itihaasa and other Vedic scriptures. His scholarship, intelligence, eloquence and stage-presence appeal to young audiences and make him an ambassador even abroad for our Indian religious culture, especially of the Sri Vaishnava strain. None therefore should deny him hisContinue reading “Dushyant Sridhar sets the cat amongst the pigeons and laughs his way to the bank? – (Part 2 of 2)”
Tag Archives: Language and Culture
Are Vedic rituals meaningless? Certainly not… not if you understand it in the Japanese sort of way.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pointing-and-calling-japan-trains Reading the above interesting article and watching the two short video/clips in it, reminds me so much of our own traditional Vedic ritual cultural practices which unfortunately are fast vanishing today in our families and ordinary daily ways of living. While the Japanese Railways devised shisha kanko ritual to regulate their trains in anContinue reading “Are Vedic rituals meaningless? Certainly not… not if you understand it in the Japanese sort of way.”
The looming propaganda offensive against Euro-Arab History
Watch this 5-minute video-clip below to get a quick summary of one version of the history of the Palestine-Israel conflict … post the horrific October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas in Palestine. It is the Israeli sanitised version. For someone who has no depth of knowledge of History, this video-clip truly serves itsContinue reading “The looming propaganda offensive against Euro-Arab History”
Youtube Video of my Book Launch Event on 23 June 2023: “Epistles of a Prolific Pontiff”- “arul mozhi” of Srimad Mukkur Azhagiyasingar
Dear Friends, Please take time out (about 30 mins) to view the attached video-clip on Youtube which is a audio-visual media report on the subject event. Please do buy a copy of the book available for sale on Amazon, Flipcart and BlueRose websites at the links provided in the Description to the Video. I willContinue reading “Youtube Video of my Book Launch Event on 23 June 2023: “Epistles of a Prolific Pontiff”- “arul mozhi” of Srimad Mukkur Azhagiyasingar”
English Version of the “Vote of Thanks Speech” in Sanskrit by M.K. Sudarshan at the Book Release Event of new book “Epistles of a Prolific Pontiff” at Sri Ahobila Matham, Selaiyur, Chennai – June 23, 2023
नमस्सभायै। अत्यन्तमानन्दस्यावसरो यत् चतुःचत्वांरिशत् पट्टे मूर्धाभिषिक्तानां मुक्कुर् अलगियसिङ्गर् इति प्रसिद्धानां श्रीमद्वेदान्तदेशिकयतीन्द्रमहादेशिकचरणानां “अरुलमोझि” इति स्वरचना “नृसिंहप्रिया” इति नाम्ना पत्रिकायां 1950 तः 1980 संवत्सरपर्यन्तं प्रकाशिता आसीत् इति सर्वे जानन्त्येव। एतस्याः “अरुलमोझि” इति नामकरचनायाः आङ्ग्लानुवादप्रकाशनसन्दर्भे ये, ये मामुपकृतवन्तः तेषां तेषां सर्वेषां कृते धन्यवादसमर्पणं मम आनन्दाय परिकल्पते तथा च कार्तज्ञविनिवेदनं मम कर्तव्यम् अपि अस्ति। सर्वादौ पञ्चचत्वांरिशत् पट्टे मूर्धाभिषिक्तानांअलगियसिङ्गर श्रीमतां श्रीवण् शठकोपश्रीनारायणयतीन्द्रमहादेशिकानां चरणारविन्दयोः साष्टाङ्गपूर्वकं मम हार्दाः धन्यवादाः। इमे अस्मदाचार्याः 1998 तमे संवत्सरे अत्यन्तं दयया माम् समाश्रयणम् इति संस्कारेण संस्कृतवन्तः इति। तदनन्तरं षड्चत्वांरिशत् पट्टे मूर्धाभिषिक्तानांअलगियसिङ्गार श्रीमद्वेदमार्गप्रतिष्ठापनाचार्य – परमहंस- परिव्राजकाचार्य –Continue reading “English Version of the “Vote of Thanks Speech” in Sanskrit by M.K. Sudarshan at the Book Release Event of new book “Epistles of a Prolific Pontiff” at Sri Ahobila Matham, Selaiyur, Chennai – June 23, 2023”
Kancha Illiah’s challenge to Brahmins and the revivalism of Sanskrit
Why no Hindutva or contemporary Brahmin scholar ever writes in Sanskrit ? Asks the well- known Dalit academician, thinker, activist and writer, Kancha Illiah….: “ Brahmins do not write in Sanskrit. Why is it so? Is it because they hate the language but continue to praise it to deceive the gullible Shudra/Dalit/Adivasi masses?” Kancha Illiah’sContinue reading “Kancha Illiah’s challenge to Brahmins and the revivalism of Sanskrit”
I know no English , but I can quote Shakespeare …
I know my distant ancestors spoke Sanskrit … Today , I can’t converse in the same language as theirs . I can read and write Sanskrit but ever since in this country it became “dead language” , being able to speak Sanskrit fluently has become a rare curiosity if not anachronism amongst common people andContinue reading “I know no English , but I can quote Shakespeare …”
Stay young and alive by writing …. says ancient Egyptian wisdom!
I am so glad a distant friend of mine emailed me this forwarded article ! It’s a fascinating piece coming out of ancient Egypt! It’s so full of profound and wise worldly observations all rolled subtly into it in subtle undertones … it says much about history, war, psycho-therapy, philosophy and , yes, sexual ethicsContinue reading “Stay young and alive by writing …. says ancient Egyptian wisdom!”
The Dark side of Dravidianism
In my humble opinion, Dravidian culture can be very proud of its wholesome and healthy worldview. But Dravidianism has 2 sides. One side has rich and ancient heritage in Tamizh… I.e. of great literature, fantastic art, beautiful music, colourful customs and traditions, and the large-hearted cosmopolitanism of a truly open society. There is however anotherContinue reading “The Dark side of Dravidianism”
The roots of Xenophobia are psycho-biological not cultural
In today’s world we see increasingly peoples of different countries hurl the word “xenophobic” as a term of abuse against each other. Xenophobia is regarded as a cultural trait. Is it ? The dictionary defines Xenophobia as “fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign.” Wherefrom does suchContinue reading “The roots of Xenophobia are psycho-biological not cultural”